HOUSTON – The Rockets opened the month of December with perhaps their best win of the 2024-25 regular season so far. With Sunday’s 119:116 home win (box score) over the Thunder, Houston (15:6) is only half a game behind Oklahoma City (15:5) and is therefore number 1 overall in the Western Conference.

In a duel of experienced guards, it was Fred VanVleet who made more key plays late. In the fourth quarter, VanVleet poured in 12 of his game-high 38 points for the Rockets, going 2 of 4 from 3-point range (50.0%). Meanwhile, thanks to Houston’s stingy defense, Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored just two points in the final period while hitting just 1 of 5 shots (20.0%).

For the game, Gilgeous-Alexander scored a team-high 32 points on an efficient shooting percentage of 52.6% and 3-point range of 42.9%, but strong defense in the fourth quarter by players such as Dillon Brooks, Amen Thompson and Tari Eason limited the damage when it mattered most.

On offense, Brooks scored 16 points and 7 rebounds for the Rockets and shot 6 of 11 (54.5%) overall and 2 of 4 on 3-pointers (50.0%).

Brooks’ contributions included forcing a crucial jump ball against Gilgeous-Alexander in the final minute – which briefly led to a heated argument between numerous players from both teams – before winning the ensuing jump and a go-ahead shot with 33.6 seconds left in the game scored for the jump ball.

The Rockets then led for the duration of the game when VanVleet put the icing on the cake with four free throws in the final seconds at Toyota Center.

Houston, which trailed by as many as eight points in the third quarter, also had a strong evening on the front line. Key statistics there included:

• Jabari Smith Jr.: 15 points, 14 rebounds, 3 blocks; 6 of 15 shots (40.0%), 3 of 9 on three-pointers (33.3%)

• Alperen Sengun: 20 points, 14 rebounds, 9 assists; 7 of 17 shots (41.2%), 6 of 8 free throws (75.0%)

Big man Isaiah Hartenstein added 19 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists for the Thunder while hitting 9 of 12 shots (75.0%). Forward Jalen Williams had 22 points and 7 assists, although the Rockets’ second-rate defense limited him to just 7 of 21 shooting (33.3%) and just 2 of 7 from 3-point range (28.6%).

Dec 1st Rocket Thunder Highlights

Dec. 1 Interviews and postgame stats

What’s next?

The Rockets will conclude the group stage of the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup with Tuesday’s game in Sacramento. The game against the Kings (9-11), which also counts toward the 2024-25 NBA regular season standings, begins at 9 p.m. Central.

In another final of the NBA Cup group stage, the Thunder will host the up-and-coming Utah Jazz (4-15) on the same evening.

More: NBA Cup Rankings Update: The Rockets win the group and are well positioned to host the quarterfinals

This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets (15-6) overtake Thunder as Fred VanVleet beats SGA late